vatican has denied those accounts. >>> mean time today pope benedict enacted major change to church law to speed up the selection of his successor. new law will allow cardinals to call the conclave earlier than what is currently allowed. that change will allow the cardinals to elect and install the new pope before holy week combines on palm sunday march 24th this year. >> pope ben picture is set to officially step down this thursday 3 days from now and among those who choose successor is archbishop of san francisco. first tile the cardinal william has ever taken part in the secret conclave. carolyn tyler has the story. >> you need to pray for me. >>reporter: cardinal william heads to rome tomorrow. today he spoke before seminarian and faculty at saint patrick seminary and university in menlo park. he's froping take part in this process known as the con clay. he will be among the 117 cardinal from all over the world who are unthe age of 80. eligible to collect the new leader of the roman catholic church. >> one need to lack for for man of faith. man of prayer. person who has shown quult